{"id":8673,"date":"2020-10-20T18:06:29","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T18:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=8673"},"modified":"2021-07-21T07:15:39","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T07:15:39","slug":"do-pencil-push-ups-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/do-pencil-push-ups-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Pencil Push-Ups Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pencil push-ups are a commonly prescribed eye exercise for the treatment of convergence insufficiency (CI).\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The question is, are they really effective?<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

Pencil push-up treatment (PPT) is generally prescribed in an attempt to teach the brain to work more efficiently for improved binocular vision.<\/p>\n

Pencil push-ups are typically performed with a pencil, though any object similar to the shape of a pencil can be used as well. The pencil or other object that is used contains letters or shapes for the patient to focus on throughout the exercise.<\/p>\n

During this exercise, the patient slowly moves the pencil toward their nose and then away from their nose, while keeping their eyes on the target letters at all times.<\/p>\n

The goal of PPT is to maintain single and clear vision for the duration of the exercise.<\/p>\n

The question is, how effective is PPT?<\/i><\/p>\n

Research on the efficacy of PPT<\/b><\/h2>\n

Studies have compared the efficacy of PPT to in-office vision therapy<\/a> for the treatment of CI.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One important study called the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT)<\/a> measured children\u2019s CI scores before and after various 12 week treatment programs.<\/p>\n

The scores were based on the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey, which states that a score of 16 or higher is considered significant when diagnosing CI.<\/p>\n

According to the research findings:<\/p>\n